Army Chemical Review

SUMMER 2013

Army Chemical Review presents professional information about Chemical Corps functions related to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, smoke, flame, and civil support operations.

Issue link: https://chemical.epubxp.com/i/141522

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 31 of 67

capabilities, which were instrumental to Iraq's long-term goals to eliminate mines and CBRNE hazards inside its borders. Another key aspect of Iraq's consequence management capacity was the Iraqi civilian response capability (through the Iraqi Civil Defense Directorate, which is a part of the Ministry of Interior). One of the key decisions in the development of a CWC compliance capacity was the decision to man, train, and equip an Iraqi chemical defense company that would be capable of responding to all CBRNE hazards and destroying recovered chemical warfare material. The Iraqi Chemical Defense Company was designed to be similar to a U.S. WMD–civil support team, but with an explosive ordnance disposal capability. Through the Multinational Force–Iraq fusion cell, the U.S. developed the equipment and training requirements for the Chemical Defense Company, while the Iraqis recruited personnel to fll unit and relevant staff positions. The fusion cell with the Multinational Corps–Iraq (through Task Force Troy) partnered with the Iraqi Ministry of Defense and Chemical Defense Company and coordinated with the U.S. Army Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear School (USACBRNS) and the U.S. Army Ordnance School, as appropriate. Tactical-level partnering was managed between a U.S. Army technical escort unit and the Iraqi Chemical Defense Company. All efforts were geared toward building a relevant capacity for compliance with CWC requirements and mitigating a WMD event. The following goals were identifed by the Multinational Force–Iraq fusion cell in 2009: y Identify Iraqi senior leaders and action offcers among relevant ministries and the corresponding Multinational Force–Iraq and U.S. Embassy team partners that would be involved in nonproliferation, elimination, and consequence management. y Conduct an Iraqi CWC and nonproliferation conference with relevant ministries to educate the GoI on nonproliferation legislation and CWC responsibilities. Figure 1. Examples of building partner capacity goals and objectives Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Interior. The Prime Minister's National Operations Center (one of three national operations centers in Baghdad) served as a critical location for Iraqi ministerial communication and coordination. The fusion cell also regularly reached back to the U.S. Central Command, the Offce of the Secretary of Defense, the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. At the operational level, the Chemical Defense Company and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Section of the Ministry of Defense were important. At the tactical level, the Iraqi Chemical Defense Company and the Iraqi Civil Defense Directorate played valuable roles. The U.S military partnered with the Iraqi Ministry of Defense to develop CBRNE defense 30 y Conduct an Iraqi WMD/CBRNE capabilities symposium in conjunction with the GoI. Each ministry would present a briefng on its capabilities for responding to the effects of WMD. y Execute an Iraqi WMD/CBRNE consequence management tabletop exercise to identify Iraq's required CBRNE capabilities and to enhance ministerial coordination and cooperation. y Conduct chemical- and biological-response training with the Iraqi Chemical Defense Company and the Iraqi Civil Defense Directorate. y Build a capacity for CBRNE material detection and a confrmatory capability. y Develop U.S. and Iraqi interagency combating WMD working groups to improve CBRNE coordination and to implement theater-wide combating WMD and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1540 action plans. Army Chemical Review

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Army Chemical Review - SUMMER 2013